16 Best Mineral Sunscreens That Won’t Leave a White Cast
Finding the best mineral sunscreen isn’t the chore it used to be. What were once gloppy, greasy, heavy creams guaranteed to leave a chalky white cast are now just as sophisticated as their chemical counterparts.
A quick refresh: Sunscreens come in two forms: chemical, which is absorbed by your skin, and mineral or physical, which sit on your skin’s surface—which is why they can be a little trickier to rub in.
Best Mineral Sunscreen 2023:
“Mineral sunscreen is a type of sunscreen that is formulated with the minerals zinc oxide or titanium oxide—or sometimes both—as the active ingredient that provides UV protection,” says Orit Markowitz, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of OptiSkin Dermatology in New York City. “The minerals sit on your skin’s surface and act like microscopic mirrors to reflect harmful rays. In contrast, chemical sunscreens work by absorbing UV rays and converting them to heat, which is then released by the skin.”
Do dermatologists recommend mineral sunscreen?
For the most part, Dr. Markowitz prefers mineral-based sunscreens since they are immediately effective against the sun’s rays (most chemical sunscreens take about 20 to 30 minutes to start working) and tend to need less reapplication.
She also recommends physical sunscreens for those with acne-prone or sensitive skin. Since mineral SPF doesn’t get absorbed by your skin, it’s less likely to clog pores and tends to be gentler on sensitive skin than chemical sunscreen.
Whenever possible, Carmen Castilla, MD, an NYC board-certified dermatologist, prefers physical sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide: “A combination of these two active SPF ingredients yields broader UV protection encompassing more of the UVA and UVB spectrum than the chemical sunscreens.”
Whichever you choose, SPF is a nonnegotiable in your skin care routine for providing broad-spectrum protection (meaning it blocks both UVA and UVB rays) against sun exposure, which can protect against skin cancer and early signs of aging.
The good news is there are plenty of physical body, face, and even tinted sunscreens out there that don’t feel heavy or leave a substantial white cast. These are the best sunscreens to stock up all year round.
